POWER BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE!
NOT TO WANNABE DICTATORS WHO BEHAVE LIKE KINGS.
WE FOUGHT THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE ABOUT 250 YEARS AGO TO GET RID OF KINGS AND HAVE A NATION OF LAWS, ESTABLISHED BY THE PEOPLE. WE NEED TO STRUGGLE AGAIN TO KEEP IT SO AND IMPROVE IT.
There has been general dissatisfaction with how the politics and economics of the USA (and the world under Globalization) have worked. The main reason is that the rich and the powerful have controlled government so that they make sure they get the benefits and the rest of us do not. It is not the immigrants that are taking our jobs - they are only the scape goats. It is the rich 1% of the population. The way democracy has functioned is "Democracy of the Rich, for the Rich and By the Rich". The Supreme Court has only ensured that this is more so by its "Citizens United" ruling which allowed the Rich people and companies to buy elections by donating insane amounts of money. This has drowned out the power of the people. It is not the other nations that have stolen from us - its the rich and powerful that have used Trade to make higher profits with fewer people.
We need Reform of the Politics and not throw the "Baby out with the Bath Water".
SO WE NEED A BETTER DEMOCRACY WITH ALL THE POWER BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE
NOT TO WANNABE DICTATORS WHO BEHAVE LIKE KINGS.
WE FOUGHT THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE ABOUT 250 YEARS AGO TO GET RID OF KINGS AND HAVE A NATION OF LAWS, ESTABLISHED BY THE PEOPLE. WE NEED TO STRUGGLE AGAIN TO KEEP IT SO AND IMPROVE IT.
There has been general dissatisfaction with how the politics and economics of the USA (and the world under Globalization) have worked. The main reason is that the rich and the powerful have controlled government so that they make sure they get the benefits and the rest of us do not. It is not the immigrants that are taking our jobs - they are only the scape goats. It is the rich 1% of the population. The way democracy has functioned is "Democracy of the Rich, for the Rich and By the Rich". The Supreme Court has only ensured that this is more so by its "Citizens United" ruling which allowed the Rich people and companies to buy elections by donating insane amounts of money. This has drowned out the power of the people. It is not the other nations that have stolen from us - its the rich and powerful that have used Trade to make higher profits with fewer people.
We need Reform of the Politics and not throw the "Baby out with the Bath Water".
SO WE NEED A BETTER DEMOCRACY WITH ALL THE POWER BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE
- Trump has taken a sledgehammer to our constitution by violating all parts of it – usurping the power of congress, disobeying the laws, and firing heads of agencies (like the Federal Election Commission) and summarily firing top Pentagon generals. Checks and balances are in shambles. “No Kings” protests have protested these actions.
- Short term Reforms – If the Constitution Survives. Electoral College, Supreme Court, Gerrymandering, John Lewis Voting Rights Act, rank choice voting, open primaries and much stronger Habeas Corpus (citizen’s rights). Revitalize the federal bureaucracy to make it better able to serve the public and more immune to a rogue president (Project 2029). Initiate new agencies, laws and programs to rapidly implement the above.
- Long Term Improvements – If the Constitution Survives. Protect constitution from a Rogue President. Reduced Presidential Executive Power. Give Congress and Courts stronger enforcement mechanisms. Consider some proportional representation methods. Equal Rights Amendment. Stronger protection of Reproductive Rights. Stronger ballot measures, propositions and referendums (nationally?).
- A New Constitution – If he abolishes the Constitution. Then begin the new process, learning from the lessons of the last decades. Start a new “Committees of Correspondence” activity now to define better “Power to the People” methods (include some in Project 2029). Make democracy more open, transparent and accountable – before, during and after elections. We will need to improve the Quality of Democracy – Range, Width and Depth (will explain).
- Definitely a very strong return to the “Rule of Law”, making DOJ, FBI and the FEC totally independent of the president. Provide an independent process for selections to the Supreme Court so that the party in power is not able to load it with ideologues – the current one is enabling his dictatorship.
- WE WILL OVERTURN ALL RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT THAT HAVE: Enabled the rich to buy elections, destroyed the reproductive health rights of women, allowed a person to be on the ballot in spite of having encouraged an insurrection, and granted immunity to a person from criminal acts that the person committed while president. These rulings have only worsened how the US democracy and constitution have functioned.
STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRACY
The efforts of Republicans aimed at voter suppression, gerrymandering, buying elections and financially dominating our democracy need to be defeated. We must support efforts that strengthen voter rights, end gerrymandering (support the National Democratic Redistricting Committee), and Campaign Finance Reform (reverse Citizen’s United). Voting rights should be strengthened by encouraging, enabling and empowering people to register and vote. Presidents should be elected on the basis of the popular vote. We have long bragged that our democratic system was the best. But some of its flaws have become obvious. To improve our democracy, we need to pay attention to its breadth, its depth and its range. The proportion of the people that participate in the decision-making processes determines its breadth. Its depth is determined by the quality and fullness of their participation. The range is determined by the extent that community life is affected across the nation. We must continually evaluate the quality of our democracy and improve it.
The efforts of Republicans aimed at voter suppression, gerrymandering, buying elections and financially dominating our democracy need to be defeated. We must support efforts that strengthen voter rights, end gerrymandering (support the National Democratic Redistricting Committee), and Campaign Finance Reform (reverse Citizen’s United). Voting rights should be strengthened by encouraging, enabling and empowering people to register and vote. Presidents should be elected on the basis of the popular vote. We have long bragged that our democratic system was the best. But some of its flaws have become obvious. To improve our democracy, we need to pay attention to its breadth, its depth and its range. The proportion of the people that participate in the decision-making processes determines its breadth. Its depth is determined by the quality and fullness of their participation. The range is determined by the extent that community life is affected across the nation. We must continually evaluate the quality of our democracy and improve it.